Sam Mellins (@SamMellins) | teapawt

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Sam Mellins@SamMellins12 Jun 2025

New for @nysfocus.bsky.social NY home health aides are now covered by insurance that slashes payments to doctors and leaves patients with debt. One woman on the plan is skipping MRIs for a brain tumor — she just can’t afford more uncovered bills. nysfocus.com/2025/06/12/lead…

The Insurance Scheme That Could Leave New Yorkers With Massive Debt

A company with a history of lawsuits and unpaid claims is now managing health insurance for thousands of New Yorkers on the taxpayers’ dime.

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Sam Mellins@SamMellinsOct 15

After reporting from me at @nysfocus and also @Newsday about NY GOP gov hopeful Bruce Blakeman's campaign finance failures, the NY Dem Party requested an investigation. My story: nysfocus.com/2026/10/15/new-…

New York Dems Call for Investigation of Blakeman Campaign

The state Democratic Party chair cited New York Focus’s reporting on campaign finance mistakes by the GOP candidate for governor.

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Nick Garber@nick_garberOct 15

New: Kathy Hochul's still benefiting from Antonio Delgado's aborted primary challenge. We found 363 cases totaling $2.6M where Hochul refunded donations she got for that primary—then got the money routed to the state party, which sent $10M back to Hochul. nysfocus.com/2026/10/15/hoch…

Hochul Had to Return Millions. She Found a Workaround.

The governor’s campaign encouraged donors to redirect their refunds to the state party, which later transferred $10 million to her campaign.

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Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn

@AMBichotteOct 6

I just got served with a contempt order signed by a Judge for invoking my constitutional rights. Punished for the 5th. Ignored for the 14th. Erased for the 13th #Justice is on Life Support—and somebody’s pulling the plug. #haters #FreedomToAssemble #FreedomOfAssociation

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Nick Garber@nick_garberOct 5

Exclusive: the Mamdani administration will take a swing at reforming NYC's civil service system — the first serious effort by any recent mayor to revamp the antiquated, 142-year-old system that critics say deters talent and worsens staffing shortages: nysfocus.com/2026/10/05/mamd…

Mamdani Enlists Unions in Push to Overhaul NYC Hiring

A new mayoral task force will study the dysfunctional 143-year-old civil service system and propose changes in Albany.

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Nick Garber@nick_garberOct 1

I'm moderating a talk on Oct. 13 with @ceaweaver and Sam Stein of @CSSNYorg about shaping housing policy in NYC. Stick around after to watch the Hochul-Blakeman debate! Tickets: luma.com/Focus-On-Housing

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Andrew Giambrone@AndrewGiambroneSep 30

Blakeman Sought Matching Funds for Thousands of Ineligible Donations (via @nysfocus) nysfocus.com/2026/09/29/ny-g…

Blakeman Sought Matching Funds for Ineligible Donations

The GOP candidate for governor submitted requests that could have granted him over $860,000 in public money he isn’t eligible for.

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Alyssa Katz@alykatzzSep 29

The Blakeman campaign put in for public matching funds for heaps of donations that don't qualify, gets caught by @nysfocus, blames Hochul. nysfocus.com/2026/09/29/ny-g…

Blakeman Sought Matching Funds for Ineligible Donations

The GOP candidate for governor submitted requests that could have granted him over $860,000 in public money he isn’t eligible for.

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Sam Mellins@SamMellinsSep 29

GOP candidate for NY governor Bruce Blakeman sought taxpayer-funded matches for thousands of donations that weren't eligible. My story: nysfocus.com/2026/09/29/ny-g…

Blakeman Sought Matching Funds for Ineligible Donations

The GOP candidate for governor submitted requests that could have granted him over $860,000 in public money he isn’t eligible for.

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Sam Mellins retweeted

claudia irizarry aponte@clauirizarrySep 23

Truly wild story about a seasoned anti-union consultant now taking a more hands-on approach, raiding unions in The Bronx: “Out of the kindness of my heart.” documentedny.com/2026/09/23/…

Cesar Alarcón Dismantles Unions — Why Is He Now Creating Them?

Golden Krust workers had issues with their union. Then a seasoned anti-union consultant showed up.

documentedny.com

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Nick Garber@nick_garberAug 27

NEW: How often are politicians using AI to write for them? We confirmed at least 10 recent op-eds that NY officials used AI to help write—including pieces by Lt. Gov. nominee Adrienne Adams and an essay by Albany's mayor on the city's fiscal crisis: nysfocus.com/2026/08/27/new-…

New York Politicians Are Using AI to Write Their Op-Eds

Politicians including the governor's running mate and the mayor of Albany acknowledged using artificial intelligence to write op-eds.

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Alyssa Katz@alykatzzAug 19

Pseudo-unions run as lucrative family businesses “for bosses, for management only...not for workers” have been thriving. Great reporting by @SamMellins & @nysfocus . nysfocus.com/2026/08/19/ibot…

NY Union Gives Millions to Its Bosses, Pennies to Rank-and-File

Five officers of IBOTU, an obscure Long Island union, collected more than $27 million over the past decade — nearly half the dues its members paid.

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@nysfocusAug 19

Nine union officers in America made over $1 million last year. Four of them run an obscure Long Island union, where we found workers who say they were forced in, multiple federal orders to disband, and a convicted mob conspirator rehired with a raise. nysfocus.com/2026/08/19/ibot…

NY Union Gives Millions to Its Bosses, Pennies to Rank-and-File

Five officers of IBOTU, an obscure Long Island union, collected more than $27 million over the past decade — nearly half the dues its members paid.

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claudia irizarry aponte@clauirizarryAug 19

This New York Union Gives Millions to Its Bosses, Pennies to the Rank-and-File nysfocus.com/2026/08/19/ibot…

NY Union Gives Millions to Its Bosses, Pennies to Rank-and-File

Five officers of IBOTU, an obscure Long Island union, collected more than $27 million over the past decade — nearly half the dues its members paid.

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Sam Mellins retweeted

Andrew Giambrone@AndrewGiambroneAug 19

This New York Union Gives Millions to Its Bosses, Pennies to the Rank-and-File (via @nysfocus) nysfocus.com/2026/08/19/ibot…

NY Union Gives Millions to Its Bosses, Pennies to Rank-and-File

Five officers of IBOTU, an obscure Long Island union, collected more than $27 million over the past decade — nearly half the dues its members paid.

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Nick Garber@nick_garberAug 19

wild story by @SamMellins nysfocus.com/2026/08/19/ibot…

NY Union Gives Millions to Its Bosses, Pennies to Rank-and-File

Five officers of IBOTU, an obscure Long Island union, collected more than $27 million over the past decade — nearly half the dues its members paid.

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Sam Mellins retweeted

Lilah Burke@lilah_burkeAug 19

“We knew we needed a union, but we didn’t want to be forced into 1199,” Hagmann told New York Focus. “So we shopped around.” from @SamMellins nysfocus.com/2026/08/19/ibot…

NY Union Gives Millions to Its Bosses, Pennies to Rank-and-File

Five officers of IBOTU, an obscure Long Island union, collected more than $27 million over the past decade — nearly half the dues its members paid.

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Sam Mellins@SamMellinsAug 19

Nine US union officials made over $1 million last year. Four of them run an obscure union of grocery store clerks and home health aides on Long Island. Yes, there is a mob connection. My investigation: nysfocus.com/2026/08/19/ibot…

NY Union Gives Millions to Its Bosses, Pennies to Rank-and-File

Five officers of IBOTU, an obscure Long Island union, collected more than $27 million over the past decade — nearly half the dues its members paid.

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Nick Garber@nick_garberAug 3

🚨 @nysfocus is hiring a news editor! Apply: nysfocus.com/hiring#news-edi…

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Sam Mellins@SamMellinsJul 29

Despite a landmark $45 million dollar settlement with the New York attorney general, residents of a notorious nursing home chain have continued to suffer abuse and neglect. My investigation: nysfocus.com/2026/07/29/nurs…

Nursing Home Chain Violates $45M Settlement With New York

New York Focus found multiple violations of the attorney general’s settlement with Centers Health Care, including staffing failures and resident harm.

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Sam Mellins@SamMellinsJul 16

As the troubled home care company PPL prepared to take over New York's $11 billion state funded home care program, it got detailed lobbying and comms help from major healthcare union 1199SEIU, according to meeting records I obtained: nysfocus.com/2026/07/16/new-…

Union Helped Troubled Company Take Over NY Home Care

Health care union 1199SEIU collaborated with a troubled home care company, Public Partnerships LLC, on messaging, political strategy, and lobbying.

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